Big Ten Basketball: Top 5 point guard-big man combos for 2019-20 season
Honorable Mention: Zavier Simpson – Jon Teske, Michigan Wolverines
Zavier Simpson and Jon Teske get an honorable mention on this list for all of the hard work they put into the Michigan Wolverines program during their four years. They won a national championship together in 2016 and celebrated a win on senior night. The Michigan Wolverines finished the season 19-12 (10-10 Big Ten) under first-year head coach Juwan Howard. I consider that to be a good year for the program under new leadership.
Simpson averaged 12.9 ppg, 7.9 apg and 4.5 rpg in his final season with seven games of 10 or more assists. Even though the game ended in a loss, his 32 point performance against Wisconsin was outstanding. The Badgers couldn’t stop him from getting into the paint or using the skyhook on taller defenders.
Jon Teske improved his points per game, blocks, rebounds and free throw percentage averages every year during his tenure as a Wolverine. Teske is primarily effective on the move in the pick and roll. He’s worked on shooting the perimeter shot which is good. While he doesn’t make them at a high rate, he can still make them.
The Michigan Wolverines have the fourth-best 2020 recruiting class nationally and best 2020 recruiting class in the Big Ten. Five-star Word of God Christian Academy power forward Isaiah Todd headlines the class. Zeb Jackson, Hunter Dickinson, Terrance Williams and Jace Howard round it out.
Check out the highlights Simpson and Teske have put together this season. While these two will no longer be with the Wolverine basketball program, it will be in good hands under Juwan Howard.
Simpson hits Teske with a give and go pass off the pick and roll in stride leading to a two-handed slam. The Wolverines beat the Creighton Bluejays 79-69 behind Isaiah Livers’ 22 points. Simpson and Teske combined for 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Teske assisted Franz Wagner on this two hand slam on the baseline. He had 22 points to lead the Wolverines and Teske had 11 points, five rebounds and four assists. The Wolverines swept the Purdue Boilermakers with that 71-63 win on the road.
This was a nice sequence of ball movement in the second half between Simpson, Teske and Livers as he cut to the basket for the layup.
Teske posterized Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell and it was set up by the double screen that left Teske open in the middle of the paint. The Wolverines beat the Scarlet Knights 69-63 in Madison Square Garden. Brandon Johns Jr. scored 20 points and Teske had 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Michigan swept Rutgers this season.
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In this battle of two highly skilled point guards, D’Mitrik Trice got the win while Zavier Simpson scored more points in the matchup. This was a nice steal and outlet pass to Simpson for the slam.